Homo erectus

Homo erectus was an extinct species of archaic human that lived during the Pleistocene, spanning nearly 2 million years. It was the first human species to evolve a humanlike body plan and gait, leave Africa, and colonize Asia and Europe. It was also the first to wield fire. Some populations of H. erectus were ancestors of later human species, including H. heidelbergensis, the last common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans.

The typical skull of H. erectus had a pronounced brow ridge, a protruding jaw, and large teeth. Its bones were much thicker than those of modern humans. East Asian populations usually had even more robust skeletons and larger brain volumes, averaging about 1,000 cc, while Western populations could be as low as 546 cc.

H. erectus invented the Acheulean tool industry, creating large, heavy-duty stone tools used for butchery, vegetable processing, and woodworking. It was a major predator of large herbivores on the expanding savannas and is often considered the first hunter-gatherer and the first to practice sexual division of labor. The species was last known to exist around 108,000 to 117,000 years ago in Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy

See also: Human taxonomy

Research history

Many scientists in the late 1800s thought Asia was where humans first evolved. Dutch scientist Eugène Dubois searched for early human remains in Java and found a skullcap and tooth in 1891, naming them "Pithecanthropus erectus". Later, more fossils were found in China and Indonesia. These discoveries helped scientists understand that early humans lived in many parts of the world.

Subspecies

Scientists have found many fossils of Homo erectus across Africa, Asia, and Europe. These fossils sometimes look different, leading some scientists to give them different names. Common names include H. e. erectus for Indonesian fossils, H. e. pekinensis for Chinese fossils, and H. e. ergaster for African fossils. These names help scientists talk about where and when the fossils were found.

Evolution and dispersal

See also: Human evolution and Early expansions of hominins out of Africa

Homo erectus evolved in Africa from an earlier human-like species called H. habilis. They were the first human-like species to leave Africa, spreading to Asia and Europe. They lived from about 2 million years ago until around 100,000 years ago. H. erectus evolved into later human species, including the ancestors of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans.

Biology

Homo erectus had a body shape much more like modern humans than earlier human relatives. They were the first human species to have a fully upright walk and a body built for walking long distances. Their heads had thick bones around the eyes and a bony ridge across the top of the skull.

Homo erectus varied in size, but most were about as tall as a modern adult and had brains a bit smaller than ours. They were the first human species known to use fire and tools, which helped them move out of Africa and live in many parts of the world.

Culture

Homo erectus was an early human species known for its ability to hunt large animals and use tools. They were likely skilled at tracking prey and may have worked together in groups to hunt. Fossils of H. erectus are often found near the remains of large animals like elephants and rhinos, suggesting they hunted or scavenged these animals for food.

Homo erectus made simple stone tools, which they used for cutting meat, processing plants, and possibly making wooden tools. They were also the first human species known to use fire, which helped them cook food and stay warm. Some groups of H. erectus traveled long distances across water to reach islands, showing they could build simple boats or use natural floating objects to cross oceans.